Armenia on the Edge of Demographic Disaster

The specialists often argue and raise an alarm regarding the fact that the abrupt changes in Armenia's demographic situation have turned into a serious threat faced by the state and the national security. But nothing more is done on this occasion besides raising the alarm.

Mortality rate of the population has got a special place in the number of the factors; such as emigration, sharp decrease of birth rate, reduction of marriages and growth of divorces, influencing the demographic situation.

According to the specialists the number of Armenian population in 1990 used to be more than 3.5 million, 22.0 thousand death cases have been registered, that is to say 6.2 per 1000 inhabitants. And in 2005, due to the emigration it has reduced to 3.2 million, 26.4 death cases or 8.2 per 1000 inhabitants.

The specialists consider these statistics to be natural and regular. It came clear that the before mentioned data is conditioned not only by the increase of death cases but mostly by the reduction of birth cases and massive emigration. That is to say the migration and the flow of the individuals of reproductive age has indirectly influenced the growth of mortality rate in Armenia.

Thus we can say that in 90s most of the people survived at the expense of their physical and psychological strength. The wide spread poverty and need couldn't remain without consequences, and after some period of time it brought to the increase of mortality rate including mostly the youth.

Not Only Physical But Also Psychological

In addition to the physical death, today the deterioration of families and moral values, religious and genetic problems are common in our reality.

Today, they often contradict national-religious issues to that of the human rights, while the idea of civil society must be sated with national motives.

In this respect the national responsibility toward the destiny of the people becomes a super task.

The specialists propose certain prescriptions on this occasion - such as - the strengthening of traditional Armenian families and restoration of national values.

Search for Survival

According to different studies, if before 1999 people emigrated because of unemployment, beginning from 1999 the search for survival was added to the before mentioned necessity. This change can probably be explained by the reduction of supply of labor force due to emigration.

In the condition of poverty, corruption, economic monopoly and unfavorable demographic situation, these issues are doomed to remain unsettled. Thus, it is very important to consider them as super tasks and to find ways to withstand them.

What Should Be Done?

From the point of view of overcoming demographic challenges, the issue of the growth of Armenia's population, that is to say the balanced proportional gender-age structure and the formation of the healthy society, the stable and territorial proportional development of the country is of vital importance. To pursue these goals it is indispensable to promote increase of birth rate, decrease of mortality rate, prevention of emigration and promotion of immigration.

We should mention that the negative demographic tendencies are viewed among the challenges of RA national security strategy.

Of course it is good that they came to a consciousness on the state level that the demographic disaster is going from bad to worse. But consciousness must be followed by actions. But unfortunately nothing is done on this occasion.